Signal



Dec. 1, 1931';

DE NlLL G. VAUGHN SIGNAL Filed March $0, 1930 I N V EN TOR. 75 IV/LL 6. /4u6///v VAA, M

A TTORNEYS.

a She ets-Sheet 1 1931- DE WILL e. VAUGHN 1,834,832

SIGNAL Filed March 20, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NEW TOR. I6 I44; 4 G l m /ew/v A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 1, 1931. DE wu G. VAUGHN 1,334,832

' SIGNAL Filed March 20, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. flz/V/zz 6i V4061? A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE DE WILL G. VAUGHN, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA SIGNAL Application filed March 20, 1930. Serial No. 437,506.

This invention is an improvement in signals, and more particularly in signals for controlling traffic, and for use with motor cars.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a type of signal, including a casing having a display opening, and a rotatable member in the casing having signal indications adapted to be displayed through the opening, together with means for operating said member.

*Another object is the provision of an operating means for the member, vertically movable, and operated by gravity to lowered position, andelect-rically controlled to upward position, and so connected with the member as to move the same angularly when the member is moved vertically.

Another object islthe provision of normally operative means for holding the operating means in upward position, electrically controlled to release position, whereby. to enable the use of current to be dispensed with, exept during the lifting of said means and the release of the same.

Another object is the provision in such a signal of translucent indications in connection with the rotatable member, and illuminating means within said member, and having connections whereby the illuminating means is operative to illuminate the indications when the said rotatable member is moved from neutral position in either direction.

Another object is the provision of electrically controlled operating means of a nature such that gravity isutilizcd to operate the same in one direction, thus dispensing with the necessity for current to return the signal to neutralposition.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

v In the drawings forming a part hereof Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are reduced front views of the improved signal showing the several po sitions. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical section, with parts broken away.

ig. 5 is a view at right angles to Fig. 4 of the operating mechanism.

. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section.

Fig. 7 is a diagram oi the wiring.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of an alternate construction.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of an alternate construction, with parts broken away.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 isa view similar to lot the hollow shaft and associated parts, with the lock in operative position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the improvement includes a cup shaped casing 1, of circular cross-section, having one end closed, and fitting at the other about an annular shoulder 2 of a base 3, the said base having openings 4 for receiving securing means, to connect the base with a suitable support, for instance, a motor vehicle. The casing 1 has windows or display openings 5, which may be covered, if desired, with a sheet of transparent or translucent material.

A rotatable member is mounted in the casing. the said member including a casing of cylindrical form, having signal indications 7, 8 and 9, which are adapted to appear through the display opening 5 of the casing 1. The indication 7 is the word Right, the indication 8, the word Left, and the indication 9, the word Stop, three indications being provided in the present instance. The indication 9 is normally at the window openings 5, this being the neutral position of the rotatable member, and it will be apparent that when the said member is moved angularly in one direction the indication 7 will appear, while when it is moved in the oppo sit-e direction, the indication 8 will appear.

on a hollow shaft 13, which is held at its lower end ina hub 14 in the base. The head 11;

has an opening for receiving the hollow shaft,

and a collar 16 is arranged on the hollowshaft to limit the upward movementof the head 11. The head 10 is provided with a centering screw engaging the upper end of'the hollow shaft, the said end being closed as. shown. The screw 15 is a pivot for the shaft, having a pointed end uponwhich the member rotates.

' A p i'r of solenoid coilsli'and 18 is carriedbythe hollow shaft, the coil 17 being near the top of'the shaft, whilethe coil. 18

is intermediate the ends of the shaft and somewhat'nearer the lower end; Within the shaft at each'coil is acore 19 and 20 respectively, the core 19 cooperating with the: coil 17, while the core 20 cooperates with the coil18.

These coils are suppliedwith current in a. manner to be'pizesently described, and itv will be apparentthat when the coil 17 is energized, the'core 19 will be moved upwardly, and that when the coil 18' is energized, the core 20 will be moved upward. Eachcore 1'1 andjlS' has at its lower end-a cross-rod or pin 21 and 22 respectively, and. these pins extend through the membersof pairs of helical slots 23 and 24frespectively... p

The pins 12 before mentioned, are arranged in. pairs, the pairs being at the opposite side of the casing, and. the members of each pair are spaced apart to proVideverti'cal guides-,fo'r the ends of thepins. It will be apparent thatwhen-either core is moved upward, it will be moved, angnlarly by the engagement of the pins 1 or 22, as, the case maybe, with the spiral slots, and. the free ends of the pins or rods being slidably connected: with the rotatable member, said. memher will be'moved angularlv.

f The pairs of slots23. and 24 are soarranged that when the corev 19 moves upward, the rotatable member will be moved angnlarly in one direction, while when the cere 20-- moves upward, it will be-moved a-ngularly in the-opposite direction; from neutral That is, the slots 23 are oppositely arranged with respect to: the slots: 24:. llVhen t-he" core 13 moves upwardly, the rotatabl memberis moved to bring the indication 8 to thedisplay opening,.while when the core 20 is moved upward,

it is moved in the opposite direction, to bring the indication 7 to the display opening.

illuminated.

The wiring is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7, and includes a source of current 25 and a switch 26. The switch includes three contact buttbns27-28' and 29, and switch arms 3.03.1 and 32,. designedto: cooperate with the contact buttonsg' A leadwire 33 passes from .the butt-c1129 to the coil 18-,- and thence to a connection with ground. Another lead 34 passes from the button27 to the coil 17 and from thence to ground; Tnneutral position the indication Stop is at the opening,,but

.it is-fnot visible, until'the switch arm- 3].- is

contacted with the buttonv 28- The. lightBS is then thrown into circuitandilluminates the cylinder 6, so that the. indication 9 is visible. i H

hen the. switch arm 30-is contacted with the button 21, the current will flow through the coil 17;, while when the switch arm 32 is contacted with the button 29, the current. will flow throitgh the coil, 1.8.. :Alead wire 35 extends from the switch tothe contact button 28,.asshowmandthis lead. wire isinterrupted, a pair of contacts being arranged at the interruption. IA branch 37. leads from the wire 35., betweenthe contacts 36 and the switch to ground-4 and a source of light 38 is arranged in this branch. A yoke-shaped switch arm 39 is carried by therotatable member,,andeach end of the switch arm is forked,

thearms of the forks being indicated at 4-0 and fllg respectively; The arms'of each forl': are adapted t'o connect thecoutact members 36, which are in the form of screws, one supported by the base 3 of' the outer casing, and the other by a bracket 42-,on the hollow shaft 13, the said bracket 42 also supporting. the light source 38. i I i i The lead wires of the circuit pass through an insulated bushing 44 in the base 3. being arranged in a suitable flexible cable 45. Re ferring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that at the lower end of each slot 23 and 24, there is a lateral substantially horizontal extension. 46, into which the pins. 21. and 22 move,.when the-rotatable member isin neutral position.

In operation, the indication 9 is normally at the display opening of the casing 1. If the driver intends to turn to the left, for instance, he depresses the switch arm 30, thus energizing the coil 17. The solenoid 19 is moved upward", and the rotatable member is moved angularly to bring the indication Left to the display opening.

If he intends to turn right, he depresses the switch arm 32, energizing the coil 18, and swinging the rotatable member in the opposite direction. As the rotatable member reaches the limit of its movement in each direction, the fork arm 40 or 41, as the case may be, close the interruption in the lead wire35, and the lamp 38 is lit. The signal is always returned tonormal neutral position by gravity, so that electric current is required only during the period when the signal is displaying turn indications. Because of this arai'igement, the amount of current consumed in the operation of the device is negligible.

The construction of Figs. 8 and 9 is'especially adapted for a control of trailic at street intersections and the like. The signal in eludes a support in the form of a base 50 and a hood 51, connected with posts 52. The rods 52 are secured to the base, and the upper threaded ends'extend through the hood, and are engaged by nuts 53 on opposite sides of the hood.

V A rotatable member is mounted between the base and the hood, the said member rotating on a hollow shaft 54, which is held in a hub 55 in the top of the base. The rotatable member comprises a body 56 of translucent material, as for instance, celluloid, and having signal indications 57-58. In the present instance, these indications are Stop and Go respectively, and the words are arranged with the letters one beneath the other, as shown. It will be understood that there are two indications 57 and two indications.

58, the indications 57 alternating with the indications 58, so that when either signal is displayed, the display is on both sides of the device.

Heads 59 are connected with the ends of the body 56, which is of cylindrical form, and the shaft 54 passes through the lower head 59, a collar 60 being arranged. on the shaft above the head. A screw pivot 61 is threaded through the upper head 59, at the center thereof, and engages the upper closed end of the shaft 54, the arrangement being such that the rotatable member 5659 rotates on the shaft 54.

The shaft 54 supports a solenoid coil 62, and the core 63 thereof is arranged within the shaft, and is normally below the coil. A cross pin 65 extends through the coil, and through spiral slots 66 in the hollow shaft. The ends of the pin extend between pairs of guide rods 67, spaced apart laterally from each other and parallel, and arranged between. the heads. i

The arrangement of the slots 66 is such that when the core is drawn upward into the coil, the rotatable element 5659 is turned angularly to bring the signal indication Stop? in line with one street, and the signal indication Go in line with the intersecting street. As soon as the coil is deenergized, gravity returns the rotatable element to its normal or neutral position.

Lamps 68 are arranged within the rotatable member, on a bracket 680. secured to the shaft 54. The lamps are oppositely arranged as shown, and another lamp 69 is arranged in the hollow base 50, which may have window openings 70, covered by transparent or trans lucent material, indicated at 71. The bottom 72 of the base is preferably made removable to enable access to the lamp 69. The lamps 68 are designed to illuminate the signal at night, and the lamp 69 is arranged to flash just before each signal is displayed.

In both constructions, only one movement of the signal requires electric current, the other being brought about by gravitation, so that in the Fig. 1 construction, electricity is usedonly when the driver intends to turn, while in the Fig. 8 construction, electricity is used only when one signal is displayed, as for instance, the Go signal.

In the constructionsillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, two windows or openings 5 are provided, oppositely arranged, and the rotatable member has three sets of indications 7, 8 and 9, the arrangement being such, that in neutral position the indication Stop will be displayed at the front and at the rear of the signal. In like manner, when the rotatable member is rotated, two sets of indications 7 or 8 will be displayed, one at the front and one at the rear.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive, the signal includes a support in the form of a base 80, and a hood 81, connected by the rods 82, the construction being the same as that shown in Fig. 8, except that an outer casing with windows is not es sential. The rotatable member indicated generally at 83, rotates upon a hollow shaft 84, and the said member is similar to that shown in Fig. 8, having like signal indications.

The shaft supports upper and lower solenoid coils 85 and 86, and a core is provided for each coil, the core 87 cooperating with the coil 85, and the core 88 with the coil 84. The core 87 has the pins 89, cooperating with the rods 83, in the same manner as the pins 65 of Fig. 8, cooperate with the rod 6?. The pin 89 extends through spirally arranged slots 90 in the hollow shaft, so that when the core is lifted, the rotatable member is moved angularly in the same manner as it is moved in Fig. 8.

Normally operative means such as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 may be provided for holding the core in upward position, and when used the said means is controlled to release position by the upward movement of the core 88. The normally operative means or look herein shown is in the form of a yoke including: a body 91 and longitudinally slot:- ted. parallel arms92 entendingfrom the body:

'The body is pivoted between lugs-.99 on the iollow shaft, and has anangular extension 93 intermediateits-endsand at the opposite side from'the arms, and the angular position of 7. this extension is adapted to pass through a i struction, the'signal isalways at the Stop slot 94 in the hollow shaft 84', and into-positionubeneath the solenoid. core 87 when itis signal is changed, and when it is released from changed position, No current isrequired to hold the core 87 lifted, and only enough current'is needed to hit the core, after-which no further current is;used until then to release the core. Thus the current consumption of thesignal is-very little, providing'thus avery economical device. 7

It will be apparent that-in the Fig. 4: conposit-i'on when in neutral, that is,.'wh.en no current is flowing in either coil; The improved signal is particularly designed for the benefit of the color-blind, since the indications do not depend upon changes in color; but in wording changes.

It will'be apparent that in Fig. 1 construction, the operation of the switches 2730, 28-31 and 29-32, providesfor three signals, with three positions of the member 6, namely,

left, neutral and right. In practice, these switches may be push buttons. When. the switch 27.3O is operated, the signal is moved:

to display Left, while when the switclr 29'32 is operated, the signal-is moved to display Right; WVhen the switchessarereleased, the member 6 returns to normal, and when the driver desires to stop, he operates the switch'29'32, which illuminates the Stop signal already at the opening.

hat is claimed as new is 7 1. A signal including a substantially cylindrical casing having a plurality of signal indications extending longitudinally thereof and spaced apart circumferentially of the casing, a hollow shaft on which the'cas ingis rotatably mounted, solenoid coil carried by the shaft, a core movable longitudinally in the shaft, aconnection between the core and theshaft for'moving the core'angularly as it is moved axially into and out of the coil, a connection between the core andthe casing for constraining the-casing to move angu'larly with the core, electrically controlled means-for'energizing the coil at will, anclan enclosing casing for the display casing having" a display opening through which the indications of the display casing are brought into view when said casing is moved angularly in either direction;

' 2. A signal including a substantially cylindrical: casing having a plurality of spaced signal indications, arranged longitudinally thereon; a-hollow shaft on which the casing is mounted for rotation, a solenoid coil oar-v ried' by the shaft, a core movable longitudinally in the shaft, means between the core and the shaft for moving the core angularly as it is moved axially into and out of the coil, a connectionbetween the oasingand the core for constraining the casing to move angularly with the core, and electrical means for-energizing the coil at will.

3. A signalincluding incombin-ation a rotat'able caslng having longitud nally arranged indications disposed in; different circumferential? positions thereon, a hollow shaft on which the casing rotates, a core within the shaft, a helical slot in the shaft, arms extending throughthe slot and connecting the core and casing, a coil mounted upon the shaft and a sliding connection between the arms andv the casing, permitting vertical movement ofthe core while maintaining the casing in its horizontal plane. 7 I

4 A signal operating by power from a normalposition and'returningthereto by gravity when the power is cut ofi, comprising a rotatable casing having indications thereon, a hollow shaft, a coil thereon, a core moving freely in the shaft, arms connecting the core and the casing, helical slots inthe shaft through which the a-rmspass, a sliding connection between the arms and the casing, and means for supplying current to the coil at desiredjtimes; whereby the movement of the core into the coil rotates the casing, and its descent by,

gravity returns the casing to its first posi--' tion.z

'5 A signal operating by power in either direction at will from a normal position and returning thereto by gravity when the power is cut oil", comprising a rotatable casing hearing indications, a hollow shaft, coils, thereon, a core for each coil moving freely in the shaft, arms connecting the cores and the casing, helical slots in the shaft through'which the arms pass, the'slots turning in opposite directions from a neutralpositiomsliding connections between the arms and the casing, and means for supplyingcurrent to either coil at will; whereby the movement of either of the cores into the coils rotates the casing'i'n one direction and the movement of the other coil rotates it in the opposite direction, and the clescent of either core by gravity returns the casing to its first position.

6.. The construction defined in. claim 5 in eluding a fixed outer casing having a longitudinal opening with which the indications on the rotatable casing may be brought into register.

7. A signal operating by power in either direction at will from a normal position and returning thereto by gravity when the power is cut oil, comprising a rotatable casing hearing indications, a hollow shaft, coils thereon, a core for each coil moving freely in the shaft, arms connecting the cores and the casing, helical slots in the shaftthrough which the arms pass, each of the slots having a hori zontal portion in which the arms of the respective cores may move, a sliding connection between the arms and the casing, and means for supplying current to either coil at will. i

8. A signal including a substantially cylindrical casing, having a plurality of signal indications spaced apart circumferentially, a hollow shafton which the casing is mounted for rotation, a coil carried by the shaft, a core movable longitudinally in the shaft, means between the core and the shaft for moving the core angularly as it is moved axially into and out of the coil, a connection between the core and the casing for constraining the casing to move angularly with the core, an electrical means for energizing the coil at will, a latch for holding the core within the coil after the current is cut off, and means for tripping the latch and permitting the core to return by gravity to its first position, thus restoring the casing to position.

9. A signal including a substantially cylindrical casing, having a plurality of signal indications spaced apart circumferentially, a hollow shaft on which the casing is mounted for rotation, a coil carried by the shaft, a core movable longitudinally in the shaft, a means between the core and the shaft for moving the core angularly as it is moved axially into and out of the coil, connection between the core and the casing for constraining the casing to move angularly withthe core, an electrical means for energizing the coil at will, a pivoted latch for holding the core within the coil after the current is cut off, and means operable by the coil for tripping the latch and permitting the core to return by gravity to its first position, thus restoring the casing to position.

10. A signal including a substantially cylindrical casing having a plurality of signal indications disposed thereon, a hollow shaft on which the casing is rotatably mounted, a

solenoid coil carried by the shaft, a core moving longitudinally within the shaft, a means between the core and the shaft for moving the core angularly as it is moved axially into and out of the coil, a sliding connection between the core and the casing for constraining the casing to move angularly with the core, an electric light within the casing,

means controlled by the rotation of the casing for illuminating the signal, and electrical means for energizing the coil at will.

11. A signal including a substantially cylindrical casing having a plurality of spaced signal indications thereon, a hollow vertical shaft, means for mounting the casing for rotation about a vertical axis, a solenoid coil carried by the shaft, a core movable longitudinally within the shaft, a means between the core and the shaft for moving the core angularly as it is moved axially into and out of the coil, said connection including laterally extending arms having a sliding connection with the casing for constraining the casing to move rotatably with the core, and electrical means for energizing the coil at will.

Signed at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, this 17th day of March, A. D. 1930.

DE lVIL J G. VAUGHN. 

